Customer Reviews

Time Capsule: Songs For A Future Generation

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Every once in a very long while a thoroughly delightful group appears out of nowhere with something new to say and a distinct, immediately identifiable way of saying it. Such is the case with the B-52's who pull off a nearly impossible trick and make it look easy. For starters, they are musically intoxicating and certainly can't be topped for dance party appeal. The vocal blend of Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson is a lovely, natural fit, and Fred Schneider's droll, spoken word additions provide an effective and often hilarious counterpoint. Keith Strickland knows that a band like this needs basic, pure drumming, nothing flashy, and he delivers. The late, lamented Ricky Wilson provided great retro surf guitar, right on time and target. The frequent use of left-field sound effects sprinkles the songs with splendid surprises.

The song writing, especially lyrics, is always slightly cracked and completely charming. Catchy tunes devoted to poorly planned parties, ruins in Mesopotamia, and making love in strobe light are delivered without irony; no matter how absurd the subject it all seems to make sense when the B-52's do it. As good as these individual contributions are, it is the collective vibe and sensibility that sends this group over the top, their Own, Private I Don't Know is recognizable from 100 paces.

While several anthology CDs are currently available, this one shines most brightly. I was considering the 2-CD compilation, Nude On The Moon, but decided against it after learning about the alternate mixes, etc. Time Capsule: Songs For A Future Generation has the absolute requisite B-52's hits you can't live without, and plenty more besides. Nice to know that future generations will have quality neo-absurdist surf-guitar dance party music to enjoy - they'll need it.

The B-52's were formed 6 years before I was born, but I was aware of their presence growing up, thanks to "Roam", but it wasn't until last year when this album came out that I realised how funky they really are. I can truly say that I have 18 more favorite songs than I did before I heard Time Capsule. I hope the B-52's make a whole new album once Cindy Wilson has finished making babies, but in the meantime I am looking forward to hearing two of their other albums, Wild Planet and Mesopotamia. I really like the vocal style of Kate Pierson, and I think she is brilliant on "Good Stuff". Fred Schneider has a kind of weird voice but it is really effective on "Quiche Lorraine". I think one of the resons the B-52's are so enduring is that they use their strengths instead of trying to be like something else. My favorite tracks are "Rock Lobster", "Strobelight", Mesopotamia" and "Debbie". The one song that took me a long time to get to like was "Song for a Future Generation", but I got there in the end. Having listened to their other stuff, I feel that "Dance this Mess Around" should have been included, but what are you going to do? Another good point about Time Capsule is that it has one of the most stylish sleeve designs ever, and'll look great in anyone's collection.

Seriously, I have loved the B-52s since I was three, when "Roam" was released. I had to have this CD, which is a compilation of all their best songs circa 1979 until 1992. My favorites are "Rock Lobster", "52 Girls", "Private Idaho", "Lorraine Quiche", "Love Shack", "Roam" and "Good Stuff". Although many people my age love pop and other mindless music, "Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation" isn't leaving my CD player anytime soon. Cindy and Kate's voices go very well together, harmonies and all...and of course, the two-foot wigs and outrageous femininity is also fantastic. Overall: 100/100 A+

Awesome collection, though it should have included "Legal Tender" and "Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland."

A distillation of the B-52's oeuvre into one small CD. Whenever I listen to best-of CD's, however, I feel the need to put on my nit-picking hat - and there's a few nits worth picking. Their second album WILD PLANET seems to get undue attention (four tracks?) while the good album BOUNCING OFF THE SATELLITES doesn't get any ("Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland" would've fit in very well here). And I was somewhat dismayed to see that "Legal Tender" didn't make the cut, either. The two new tracks are decent but forgettable. For those new to B-52-land, however, this is probably the best place to begin.

Review number 62. Fantastic eighteen track retrospect compilation of this reunited TOP of the line '80's new wave band. As for this genre of music, it JUST doesn't get much better than this. I saw the B-52's play a free gig at an outdoor mall just last summer and it was honestly one of the funnest concerts I've attended in sometime. As for this CD, you get to fully experience once again the college radio staples and some of the band's lesser known goodies, like "Planet Claire", "52 Girls", "Party Out Of Bounds", the unreleased 'original' edit for "Summer Of Love", "Love Shack", "Roam", the awesome "Is That You, Mo-Dean?" plus two new cuts, of which both are good. What, no "Dance This Mess Around" ? That's my personal B-52's favorite of all time. Nonetheless, 'Time Capsule' is still highly recommended.

Who cares if the B-52's are a combination of space music/funk/beach blanket/rock 'n roll psychodelia? They are still one of the most original bands from the last century. Sure, the best cuts are all here in this collection. The classic "Rock Lobster", "Private Idaho", "Quiche Lorraine" and the irresistible dancer "Love Shack". This is THE 'dance party disc'. Big hair, big voices, big guitar licks and big dance hits send this collection back and forth from outer space. "Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland" (another classic) is missing and the new tracks, "Debbie" and "Hallucinating Pluto" are fair fodder from this gang, but you have to love everything on this CD. Get yourself and party - oh-oh!!

Hooray! This compilation is all an average listener to the B's needs. It has it all. The hijinks from the early days and the new tracks with the same kind of quirks.

Very nice sounding CD, HDCD encoded...it will blow you out of the room. Crystal clear sounding. Nice job!

This is a great album. It is a great representation of the music they have been putting out over the years. But the real treat of this disk is it's HDCD encoding. So if you have a CD player with HDCD decoding instead of hearing the rather flat 16 bit CD sound, you will get the full 20 bit HDCD sound. This may not sound like a big deal, but the difference in sound quality is remarkable. You will hear more music than ever before, with far more depth and realism than is usually possible with a normal CD. Buy this disk! You owe it to your self and your children.

If you are looking for a combination of good rock-and-roll, sharp musical sense, great female vocals and a fun sense of humor - this is the best that you could hope to find. The B-52s are the only group other than The Kinks who could consistently combine wit with musical charm. This collection demonstrates both their sense of humor and their musical range, which is surprizingly wider than one would anticipate if only exposed to "Rock Lobster" and "Love Shack." These two songs are great, but they are surpassed by the likes of "Roam," "Private Idaho," and "Channel Z" and "Song For A Future Generation." In fact, there isn't a weak song on this anthology, every song contributes its own quirky style to the albums garden of musical and comedic delights, and more than a couple of these songs could be included among the best songs of the 80s. "Roam" is my favorite - it is far and away the B-52s highest achievement - and it might be numbered among the best rock songs ever produced. "Private Idaho," while not meriting that level of acclaim, is nonetheless a definitive piece representing the bands own peculiar mind-set, and one would be hard pressed to find a song that is performed with more enthusiasm. The most impressive aspect of the album for me is found in the vocal work of the "B-52 girls," who together have quickly become one of my favorite vocal acts.

Above all, this cd is great to listen to while travelling via automobile across country. Last year my family and I took a long car trip and this cd helped to make it seem a lot shorter. If you are going out on the road, take a copy of this sprited time capsule, the time will pass quickly for everyone if you do.